Toc H in Norfolk 1920-2007

TOC: H

TtK used n irua bsaklel arit tar^y Trom IIwTk M archiive and Hipyii^hl la assutned t« wffi Toe M unfeaa ciheiviise

ailaied. Aay infrinE^etmcM or ocfiyriglit is udnLenlidiial and vv« apdJa^is^ unr^s^i^adly iTBiia is che eas4.

Sanu-dlhc l£riTlindl£gy uS^ in Lhe LdxE is IhEatwNdi was ii^CHnmdtl use al (he Eiine I hdve hH always allered iL lEiE pdnTitar ^yedJ[>a£S

as lhai vimiJd disbsrl ihefacis

First Edition
Second Edition

2007

2019

This booklet was originally produced for a Toe H
Norfolk Rally at the Pleasaunce in Overstrand. It was
online for a while but has not been available for some
years. This new imprint on Moonbrand, which has had
some minor errors corrected, is available as an online
book and a downloadable PDF.

Moonbrand Publications
Docking Farm Cottage
Docking Farm
Oulton
Norwich
NR11 6QZ

moonbrand@largeinnorfolk.com

Moonbrand Publications © 2019

Introduction

This is not the complete story of Too H in Norfolk! How could it be? It is almost ninety years
since the first Norfolk men came together in the name of Toe H. At some point more than
40 towns and villages had a branch - often two as the women’s movement had their own
branch in many towns. And in each of those branches, how many members? All those peo¬
ple, all those places, all those years - there is too much to tell in these few pages!

I hope you enjoy this small insight into the work of Toe H in Norfolk and if you are one of
those who contributed to this work over the years then I thank you with all my heart. What¬
ever may happen in the future I know that you, my friends, will always

g

Yours in Toe H
Stco^

October 2007

Gorleston branch representing Toe H at the Lord Lieutenant's
Speciai Service for voiuntary organisations in May 2007

In the Beginning

When the First World War ended, Tubby Clayton was determined that the Fellowship that
had been forged in the Old House in Poperinge, should be kept alive in the UK. He em¬
barked on plans for a new house in London but at the same time encouraged men in the
provinces to rekindle the Toe H spirit in their locality. To achieve this, in June 1920, he
wrote a circular letter (Inset) to a number of those he had known as they passed through
the Old House and whose addresses he had collected from the surviving Communicants
slips. In Norfolk, the two figures he wrote to could not have come from more different back¬
grounds. One was Major Ouintin Gurney, an officer of the Norfolk Yeomanry and later of
the 8th Army Corps. Gurney had joined the Talbot House Committee in March 1918. A
member of the famous Gurney banking family. Major Quintin’s family tree was filled with
the kind of people Toe H would later nurture. These included Elizabeth Fry — the famous
prison reformer, Thomas Fowell-Buxton—the anti-slave campaigner, and Evelyn Ruggles-
Brise, another prison reformer and designer of the Borstal system.

The other contact Tubby wrote to in Norfolk was Albert ’Inky’ Bean, a young printer from a
working class background in Great Yarmouth. Immediately the words of the sign that hung
in Talbot House rang true:

All Rank Abandon Ye Who Enter here

The June 1920 circular from Tubby to
Foundation members in the provinces
asking them to form local branches. I
believe a copy of this letter was re¬
ceived by Major Q.E. Gurney in Dere¬
ham and Gunner A.V. 'Inky' Bean in
Yarmouth, thus sowing the seeds of
Toe H in Norfolk.

'' UlhK

" This ia by wiy dE being j. fnrrvuJ laiei fr. Tsill^ ^ ^ v.-'hrt^r

you cu ue vikir W3.J hn !iif| m diuiKt u i.daJ Setreur^' u ifaf UnkUMfu.

Thr Aep wt .ITT iKTK' nUnif in lIk rnrimciiiin iJt ill uver eIk- ECingidntn ii

one ihu id viul a> ihi- wcUiit ukI ilcicfcpwvnt erf ihr new wort, md in ii dE i1k uunnS
bnjExiiiH-E (Kdt Tor FT. tc [r|]iEiEErMil by a Founduku Memixd' wluu i±du± tS

itn'K/t uid EtUnwdUp ue be leSidd nn.

" The jpogriplncii innlyiid nE nue nlil Ci.i mmunlo^li' JEeUI {wieb Ebr of i

iilil fimili iiE thr Hotpr) n now at kngfh occnpleie. Ei hu been i big undeiukinj; finr
xn xmRur ufS, but the EoundMuni are well lOiI indy Uiil. Thr iliiintei wfi^b wr hnvr
Eenned me—(rj EjiTHkih utJ ibr piminrial t-nurvti. (ij rouniiy ixtrirti Khkh tu'ie
lirtn injHT luhHiiTidrd. In evdrr that ihn Lncil Setrnary nuy n« find hii inull fleck
utirriy bryonJ tdi nadi.

" Jdlmlilr Itricfly ibr unwni 111 iTie nrirxir -qurnood whiob Hie edHTiJ in ynur

nund ai pnu irad ihii-:—

" i, Wif nrjanrJF our ^rinnai TuimhcTihif mi Anjiiior: boEJUSe Unitji ii diiTTlglth.

Hitherm ifae inudi hu oecn ulcly nuinuined by pefl, iinl nbl iriendd dE TH. in iIh
H mc lown—riron in tbr •dnitr iicnri—bxir not known one UKiher. The lAdlviiluJiiiai
luE b« bjibecie ineriiabli, btit [fadi prucioe nurft oedte furibinib, aikj nr wun dke
Meenbefi elp Iriow une OAioIirr in all yutir JiveniEy -oE and ocoupaiiaiii,

im.l tarn li> AaiiJ In^dJicT.

j. cf memipcrf^^ ? Lhc pavincnE

Ilf ±1 fii aiMiuilly, wlikb Id jiKue nr Iru h iinnTOnl lunir Kandp uleqiune in carer ibe
princing and pnfugii^ nenr dui it oodbi aker in oi/ruliriie loir mrmliirFhip. In daper
nullrn j fimnE^luiH mynifrnhf hn; jlrrsd V ihtmi gjfl] ai tlicji, mil wmrr.

We ane a fellaii'ihif af eipeiienoriL ynuiK nm) iLuIntemlrd rnilnjiuun, utd it td God'i irJQ
Chdil wr ihwftd go Earward.

V P‘'Aiir atr rAr it/ AfkinScwj/ir^ ? Tbr rmruql nE Iknki liun Ciry life

vhiuIiI tebrrwiv ■rvrr; Ihr Jinking iif oH okd and tried Enendshipe;; and ihe kaendikn i>E
Eresh nnee b«ui«n chtde 'who Juw a gyeai ei'perieiice In crnminn, all of which will «art
ynuiy^ griHTieirxi, nhnnt wr mult include in our Mem tier ihip, whac ite kamt
Aciare Serrk^ ihac ifaere u i greac deal of ijrigpaal guid in man.

Wh*) iadSitin /kh A tirfl raie Iduh Mnuir in Lnndoni nn

wiii X oeoiplne ih&eiiie uf LlndJiiiniriEn .piuj in a Iriondlp and bdplul way. wiih rheap
■nmiunjiiiiin loc London and oounny nKmbcr^ and offueeunibei lur ipin, IrngbErr,
plain liding and bdgb ihiniing.

"-y. i/ierc iv tocdt Citf^ A^uiei 7 We he^ ud will ibelp thr local liancbB- h
h^p dieiYuelvia in eiDy wiy wo ran.

" EEere. the*, are ehr IhAi ilud Ti.k H. Will you o:jdr in 'i-idk die Loi^l Secraarydh^?
]E dih [ luj^yill eliK lou Find. iE yew un. rhrec nr four keen Epiriu ci whuin. ynn oaiy
Ecnm a Ccanmince mhosc advice ud help ymi cui ndn lo m all local nuncr],
edwcully in the lelecua nf h:w mcinlim. If jmi will lake die Secroojyihip nn, we wiD—
Cd) dend you a k'nitiny; liii nE mcTotni. near yi«ir (A) Kimibune yati E« any jJvrviiieiOcnE
of your affninantent in the loci] Foeu iLac pau naiy dee fii in onke^ jod^ oil eourrr. nudfy
your appouiuueni In mr (luh Ihrcrtoay. Thr ntal mp w-ain. Ear you.

"‘Yniird mnr-e ihan ddetirly,

F. n. CLATTOdl,

fpufrjT giri iIYdo. Sfr."'

In July 1920 the first ever Directory of Toe H was published and Norfolk’s sole representa¬
tive was Major Q.E. Gurney based in Dereham. He was the local correspondent with a duty
to band together men in the name of Toe H.

As yet, the other recipient of Tubby’s letter had not quite managed to establish Toe H in
Yarmouth. I’ll let Tubby tell that story himself.

In an East Anglian Town, famous for bloaters, a Gunner sat, his head between his hands. It
was 1920, and early spring. The Gunner was no longer in the Army. He had come Home,
and had been re-established as a compositor upon the sea-port’s Daily Mercury. The high
tide of return had landed him in the domestic circle of his Flanders dreams. His wise wife
understood him thoroughly; his children were the cynosure of all eyes in the street for tidy
turn-out and docile behaviour. What then, was there to weigh on his mind?

In tmth, he blamed himself for certain moods of discontent, which evidenced themselves of
late, when the sheer joy of home, of being free, of being once again a citizen, began to fade.

It lasted for six months; and then returned a yearning for the rough and tumble of Battery
life, for men who had become (with all their foibles) strangely dear to him, yes, and for the
big sense of self-surrender to a great cause. All these things he had known; and now the day
of small things had reclaimed him.

These men had been his pals, his working partners, mates in the bivvies, teams in the gun-
pits, brothers in their rough way. Friends had been killed, apparently to very little purpose.

He still could hear their moans and imprecations; but pain makes anyone say anything. “A
stomach-wound is worst,” so his thoughts ran, as if it might occur that afternoon. But he had
come through whole. Why was he chosen to survive so many, who might have done much
more to help their fellows? Before him, lay a letter from a Padre he had known. In it the Pa¬
dre told him that he was tp regard himself as the Keyman in that whole district of East An¬
glia for the revival of old Talbot House. What could he do? He would, in the first case, take
counsel with his brother over it.

His brother was not prone to Churchmanship, and war had had an adverse affect on him.

Yet, for the sake consanguinity, he acquiesced, limiting his liability to the considerable outlay
of 7s 6d. That was one half of the hire price of the hall in which the inaugural meeting of
this new Society was to take place. An announcement to this effect was inserted by the com¬
positor’s employer in the Town paper; and the two brothers, turned out to welcome all and
sundry at the doors of the hall at 8pm. At the announced time, no one had come. At 8.15 the
same was the result. At 8.30 there had been no addition. At 9pm the meeting still consisted
of the two brothers, waiting at the door. At 9.30 the brother, who had joined reluctantly in
the adventure, solemnly passed over his three half-crowns, and left to get a drink before clos¬
ing time. At 10.15 the Gunner, now alone, put out the lights and locked up the hired hall.

When he reached home, his wise wife comforted him; and to her comfort Toe H in East
Anglia, in eighteen units prior to the second world war, owes its foundation.

Tubby On Toe H- Compiled by John Durham (Toe H Publieations -1963)

Great Yarmouth Begins

Eventually Inky’s determination (with his wife’s support) paid off and a small band of Yar¬
mouth men gathered together. They started to expand more rapidly when the Revd. D.C.
Tibbenham joined them in 1922 . Unaware of Toe H previously, Tibbenham saw the poten¬
tial of such an organisation and encouraged their growth. By 1927 they were established
enough to gain branch status (Norwich had beaten thern to this status by three years de¬
spite not starting untii 1923 - See beiow). The Yarmouth iamp was presented to the branich
by Col. i.H. Benn in memory of the Drifter Patroi and was lit by the Prince of Wales at the
Royai Aibert Hall on 3*^ December 1927. The lamp became known simply as the Drifter
Lamp.

They found themselves a dilapidated house which they took over and made habitable.
Here they spent time discussing the issues of the day and each year held
a Children's Party. Another pre-war favourite was Great Yarmouth Hospi¬
tal Day where Toe H joined other organisations raising funds for the local
hospitals, Toe H nomnally pitched their stall on the front near the Empire.

The branch would dress up as convicts and have a dart game where you
threw darts into playing cards to win a prize. Prizes were usually a pack
of ten fags courtesy of one of the two members who ran tobacconists in
the town!

By the late forties the branch had taken a lead in organising Welfare and
Social Activities for the Deaf and Dumb - a job which they had been car¬
rying out for many years - under the auspices of the new National Health
Service.

MEETING PLACES

Over the years the branch shifted it’s meeting place on many occasions.

For a time they used Johnson's Rooms in Northgate Street close to St
Nicholas; by 1933 they were in St Andrew’s House (Sometimes St An¬
drew's Institute) on North Quay but in February 1937 they moved to
146a Kings Street. After the Second World War they lost their King Street HQ and were of¬
fered use of the vicarage rooms as a stopgap. By 1949 they were using the Deaf and
Dumb Institute in Albion Road. Later they would move into 'Anna Sewell House' on Church
Plain where the Toe H lamp can still be seen on the leaded windows, and finally they end¬
ed up in the Mission Rooms on Runham Vauxball which is where they were when they
closed down and merged with Gorleston.

In 1939, Toe units across the world were encouraged to go back to basics and open Ser¬
vices Clubs. One opened in Great Yarmouth in October 1939 and was initially run by Inky
Bean. It’s entrance was in Row 105, opposite St George's church and now obliterated by
Yarmouth Way, It centred around a canteen - over the door of which was the familiar sign

Great Yarmouth
branch photographed
at a Farewell supper to
Padre J.E.E Tunstall on
8th April 1935. The
Revd Tunstall became
Area Padre in North
London district.

'Abandon All Rank Ye Who Enter Here" but also had two quiet rooms [for
reading), a games noom, and a chapel. Toe H also offered a service finding
men on leave a billet with local people, and their was a notice board on the
wall where people could pin messages for colleagues and relatives, just
like they had done al ihe Old House. In 1941 Inky left for Cambridge
\where he opened another service club In the conrtpany of Howard Dunnett
and a Mr Gome. Inevitably this club was known as Bean and Gome and
Dunnett!! Later Inky would move to Southampton to be warden at the
Too H Honrte for Seafaring Boys.

Gorieston, who had come together In the mid thirties, ran a similar club
above the Coliseum in Gorieston High Street (See branch directory for
further details)

After the war it was business as usual for the Yarmouth branch alt¬
hough they tried to expand their service repertoire in the ISSOs by
conducting tours of Old Yarmouth for tourists. Eventually the ravag¬
es of time caught up with the branch and it decided to merge with
Gorieston.

Toc

//r
ft

tttfii

But what of the rival city inland?

Norwich

In Non/vich, the story of Toc H can be traced back to the night of 25^ January 1923 when
Alec Patterson, the prison reformer and one of Tubby’s earliest allies in Toc H, travelled to
Norwich and spoke to an audience of some 70 people in the Colman House at the YMC-A.
The evening was presided over the Lord Mayor and had the intent of a Norwich branch be¬
ing formed. The call was heeded and a Group established which was promoted to a
Branch in 1924. (Thus beating the earlier formed Yarmouth to branch status)

Rev G D’Arcy Blackman and Dr A. Greene took a leading part in the founding of the Nor¬
wich branch. Captain Geoffrey Colman donated branch lamp in memory of his friend Gil¬
bert Talbot

The Norwich branch met at Erpingham House in 22 Tomblands {Now Erpingham House
restaurant) which they shared with Norfolk T.A. and Red Cross. In 1926 this was given as
their address but a note said they met in Curat House, Haymarket (Now JD Sports). By
1927 were in Church House on the comer of Pottergate and St John’s Alley - fltfingly this
is now a theme pub selling Belgian beers I

Soon after the war they were on Elm Hill where they remained for at least 30 years.

Around 1931 the Norwich branch found itself too large and Norwich Heigham Group was
started. Heigham being an area to the West of
the City, Normally where a group is hived off
from another group it goes its own way but in
this case, Heigham was to work alongside its
elder brother.

Norwich Women's branch was formed 1934
with Lady Mayhew being a founder member
and a stalwart of the League of Women Help¬
ers, later becoming a Vice President of the
Women's Association. She maintained a dose
association with Norwich branch until moving
to London. In 1964 the branch celebrated their
30th Anniversary

Qiurdi Hbuse, 5t John'-s AIIev whEne the Norwich
firaiVIh rl^t TnOrtl 192? until WWTI.

Much of Toe H’s work in Norwich was with the Blind but there were many other activities
which are shown throughout this booklet.

Norwich ladies celebrating their 50th anniversary in 1984/5. Founding member Lady Mayherw is seated centre
Photo © EDP

Norwich District stalwart Harry
Long and Long Term Volunteer,
Helen Onslow, emptying the Toe H
post-box.

After publication of the original booklet I received this
message from Pat Dailey.

1 have been thinking a lot of the old times since we met and feel it was a great shame that so little was in your
book about the Norwich ladies and all they did. When my husband and 1 came to Norfolk in 1963 the Norfolk
Show was busy with the Stockmen's Canteen with which 1 soon became involved. This was, at that time run by
Mr and Mrs Bell. My husband and I then took this over from 1987 for 10 years until it finally finished. 1 did
see my name in your book under the piece about Colin Webdell.

Toe H when 1 came to Norfolk was busy, the ladies then met at Magdalen Road in the Blind Home and then
transferred with them later to their new home at Thomas Tawell House. I remember meeting in the early days
when we mended bed linen, letters were written and parcels packed and sent off at Christmas. Every Sunday
two of the ladies would take the blind to church at St Andrews, two on each arm, and sometimes a couple of
partially sighted in the middle.

Great events were the parties at Carrow Road in the summer when we used St Christopher Coach to collect
blind and disabled, music from the Salvation Army band, a good tea and chat with them. We also went to Lewis
Buckingham regularly on a Saturday afternoon to serve tea to the elderly, and of course the party for the Deaf
and Dumb at Suckling Hall, now Cinema City, was a riot.

The ladies met at Thomas Tawell House until 1991, that is the last date I have in my diary, you must remember
they were getting older, in fact 1 was the youngest and 1 was in my 60s.

1 think the minutes of these meetings must have been held by Barbara Roberts who was the secretary for the
ladies until we finished. Unfortunately she is no longer with us so 1 cannot say what happened to them.

Branch Life

The following pages illustrate some aspects of Toe H’s work in Norfolk along with some
pictures of just a few of the many branches

Gorleston (2006) —the last branch in Norfolk

The commemorative coffee pot
presented to BB Bothams for his
work in the wartime canteen in
Gorleston.

Gorleston women's branch c 1960

L-R: Bunny Blount, Margery Palmer, Margaret Lewis, Betty White, Joan Gates, and Olive Tennant.

Cecelia Ebbage (Gorleston Ladies) reflects on some of the work they did

The Gorleston Ladies branch of Toe H was formed shortly before the war by
Phyllis Bowyer (Cyril ‘Cubby’ Bowyer’s wife). Dr Young on Church Road - an
Edwardian house and outbuildings - gave us the use of the loft over his gar¬
age for our meetings. I think we numbered about 15 but the record books
would show the date of our first meeting. I believe it could have been in early
1939.

On Friday Sept 1939 we were asked to help at the Floral Hall (Now the
Ocean Roonri) when that afternoon children from London and the south of
England would be arriving by sea on the Queen Pleasure Boats and would
be accommodated overnight at the Floral Hall. The next morning they would
leave by coaches for their evacuees homes in Norfolk and parts of Suffolk.

In the middle of the afternoon the children arrived seeming quite bewildered
as one would expect - some tearful and unhappy; some interested in the sur¬
roundings and wanting to go to the beach. I believe that some thought that
this is where they would be staying, at the seaside.

We helped with making them as comfortable as possible and then gave them
a meal. I believe most of the food was provided by Matthes the bakers. Most
of them cheered up by 6-7pm. Very sleepy! The centre of the Floral Hall was
much bigger than it is today (The dance area) and straw mattresses had
been placed there, I believe the men’s branch had arranged this. We had a
good supply of blankets and I believe there was one sheet for each mattress.

There were a few mothers accompanying the children - several expecting a
baby.

Of course, as one would expect, we had to be on the alert. I believe we rest¬
ed on the gallery but able to keep an eye on the children who would want the
lavatory, or a little cheering up with a cuddle if they were frightened and won¬
dering what had happened.

Children can be adaptable and the next morn¬
ing most ate a good breakfast after which they
had to be marshalled outside to catch the
coaches to the various villages and their foster
parents. Eventually they were away. I remem¬
ber the mixed feelings we had - apprehensive
for them especially after the boat trip and their
sudden realisation that they were far from
home.

Stock Photo

The original post-box (Above right) installed
outside the public library by Norwich Heigham to
collect magazines for the hospital and its late
sixties replacement (Left) Installed by Norwich
District to collect stamps and magazines

*.

^ - -

i

The front and back
of a plaque pre¬
sented to Padre
Blackman of Nor¬
wich in 1938. The
plaque is now at
Talbot House.

In 1978 Aylsham collected keys and
metal toys for the Blue Peter appeal.
Roy Key Is pictured with some local
children

1

H '

1

1

1

r

'> iw 1

1976's big cause were knit-ins or¬
ganised jointiy by Toe H (Olive Ten¬
nant) and the NSPCC. They raised
money for Leeway (Norwich refuge
for battered wives) amongst other
causes. Knitters inciuded iocal WI,
disabied peopie from Vauxhail Cen¬
tre. 250ib of wooi was coilected for
the knit in and had to wound into
loz baiis before it couid be used.

Li - ii

Btf ■

A pew end at All Hallows carved from wood taken from the old Post Mill where

Bradwell met

* t

The founding members of Bradwell branch

The Old Slaughter House, Re creation

Sprowston Toe H Headquartere.

Sprowston branch raising funds for Norwich hospital radio

The Birth of A Branch

North Walsham

In November 1934, Mr Arthur Mowle of Happisburgh group organised a meeting in the
Corn Hall at North Walsham. It was attended by representatives of Happisburgh, Norwich
and Norwich Heigham groups along with about eight North Walsham men including Major
P. Pickford D.S.O., M.C., the Rev F.A. Chase (Vicar of St Nicholas, North Walsham) and
the Rev. B.F.Ritson. After the organisation and its aims were formally explained a Grope
was formed. The first Grope meeting was held at St Nicholas’ rooms on 23'^'^ November
1934. Those in attendance included Arthur Mowle, Rev. Ritson, Kenneth Brown, Edward
Newman, H. Wallwork, Rev Chase, and several others. Mr Frank Stannard was appointed
Chairman whilst Arthur Mowle took both the Treasurer and Secretary roles. The Reverends
Chase and Ritson was later appointed Padres. Frank Stannard soon left the Grope and by
Feb 1935 Mr Lachlan was chairman.

By the end of the year a permanent meeting room at Ivy Cottage, Aylsham Road was ob¬
tained and fortnightly meetings were held there.

The Gropes first job was to collect gramophone records to be given to a Children’s home.
Other early work was in support of the cottage hospital.

Meetings were filled with readings from The Challenge and the Journal; debates sparked
by such articles; and planning of future jobs. They were fuelled with a coffee break and al¬
ways closed with Light and Family Prayers

The Grope frequently visited Sheringham and Happisburgh branches and also had return
visits from these and Norwich. Later their visits extended to Aylsham, Cawston, and their
own spin-off branch at Holgate.

In April 1935 they decided to start a fund to arrange holidays for the blind

In October 1935 the Grope were successfully initiated as a Group. This status was officially
conferred on 31 Oct 1935 at a ceremony attended by Norwich, Sheringham, Happisburgh,
GY, & Norwich Heigham and took place in the Guides Hut, Aylsham Road which had re¬
cently become their new HQ. They were bestowed a rushlight

Summer 1937, in collaboration with local businessmen, they formed the North Walsham
Lads Club along the same lines as the famous Norwich Lads Club.

In November 1939 the group decided that since they were tied up in Civil Defence meet¬
ings should only be held every
two months. The war also led
to the interesting scenario
where the minutes of the meet¬
ing on 7 Nov 1939 were not
signed off until 5th March 1946
at which point regular meetings
recommenced in the ARP Con¬
trol Room, in Yarmouth Road

North Walsham finally attained
Branch

status and North Walsham float in

, 50s. Peter Pashley re-

Were be- called thatloc H normally
ctn\A/oH a prize...because

aiuweu d PiQ Qpig gigg entered!

lamp in

March 1946. The Lamp of Maintenance was actually presented to the branch at Norwich
on 3'^'^ April 1947 by Peter Rabon, Norfolk District Secretary.

In 1947 they got their branch banner (Right)

In April 1950 the North Walsham branch was so success¬
ful that they ‘split’ by forming a new Holgate unit (Led
again by Arthur Mowle). After failing to get branches in
North Repps and Bacton off the ground, North Walsham
were key in establishing Mundesley unit in 1958

In 1951 began meeting at the Barn. Actually a building in
Mitre Tavern Yard Shared with the Scouts

On 30th Aug 1972 met in the hut on New Road where
they continued to meet until their demise just a few years
ago.

EXTRACTS FROM THE MINUTE BOOKS

If you thought it was all serious business let me tell you that at one meeting there was great
discussion caused by the fact that a member had had oil from the lamp spilled down his
flannel trousers. Some felt he should acquire a new pair at the branch’s expense but ulti¬
mately it was decided he should patronise the local cleaners!

4th May 1951

“15 members proceeded by car to Sprowston for a guest night. Arrangements went quite
well until a certain member of the branch was reluctantly driven past Scottow Three Horse¬
shoes where it seems he desired to
spend part of the evening. It was decid¬
ed that in future we go to Norwich by a
different route to avoid a future repetition
of this member’s behaviour”

The memorial board in North Walsham's branch meeting rooms

MUNDESLEY HOUSE

Much of Toe H's early work was based around the hostels—known as Marks—that they ran
throughout the UK. Later Toe H acquired permanent buildings and campsites such as
Cuddesdon and Dor Knap, for use by the movement. Norfolk never had anything like this
so it was an exciting event when they obtained the use of a large house at Mundesley. For¬
mer warden Trevor Sizer reflects on this event.

It's a long time ago now but I'll give you a few details as I remember them. The nearest
Toe H house to East Anglia was Alison House and it was felt that a property in Norfolk /
Suffolk would be an asset. We searched for & viewed one or two possible houses but to
no avail. Through a person in Taverham, Norwich where Pat & I then lived we learnt of a
house which could be leased , on a youth site, to Toe H. It was discussed with the then HQ
staff and an agreement to lease for 5 years was undertaken. This I think was in 1985, but
could be a year either side. The thinking was that it would be a residential/training/ project
centre for the then Mid-Eastern Region & particularly suited to work with young people be¬
ing on a 5 acre site with 2 other youth houses. Toe H undertook to refurbish and equip the
house which could sleep 28 person in a variety of rooms. The house was one of three

which together with their grounds and that of an adjacent bungalow had been bought at
■ ' 'Methodist' Youth Holidays/Camp. The original house of the site

various times and run as
was called "Raxawa" (which in Ceylonese means resting place for man & beast) and used
as a District Youth House prior to the establishment of the Methodist Association of Youth
Clubs. When not required by Methodism it was purchased and run by the local manage¬
ment committee as a company with full charitable status. The house which Toe H leased
was bought in at a later time. It was known as Domum House (house with a homely at¬
mosphere) and had for many years been the summer home of one of the Bishops of Peter¬
borough. I wrote an article for Point Three in the period 1985/8 about the house and re-
ceivecTa letter from a clergyman in Dagenham who was the bishop's son in which he indi¬
cated that his father was a great educationalist and would have welcomed the use by Toe

H and young people. All in all I think the house was a worthwhile venture but policy
changed and it was decided not to renew the lease & it reverted back to the Methodis

lethodist

Youth Complex. Unfortunately they only operated until 1992 having sold the whole site. It
is now a housing complex!!

The article that Trevor refers to is reproduced overleaf

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Norfolk Branch List

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Although we talk mainly of branches, a body of men gathered together in the name of Toe
H is in general a Unit. In the early days these Units started life as a Grope. Once a Grope
had shown it had the conviction to move forward it would be granted Group status and
have a Rushlight bestowed upon it. The Group would then continue their work on probation
until such time it was decided they could become a Branch when they would be awarded a
Lamp which would be officially lit at the next suitable National or Regional gathering.

Although the Grope unit was soon dropped, Groups were the entry level Unit for many
years. It was far from automatic that a Group would achieve Branch status quickly, if at all.
Some Units remained as Groups for many years (e.g. North Walsham) whilst others (The
Walpoles: Wells) never made Branch status. Further more. Branch status was only award¬
ed as a tenure and it was not unknown for a Branch to lose this status - sometimes by its
own cognition.

This section lists as many Units of Toe H in Norfolk as I have been able to find with a few
snippets of information about them.

Attleborough

Toe H survives in Attleborough
through the Attleborough Players—a
local drama group. At some time
along the way one of their members
had been a member of Toe H and
the group became associated with
them and as a result they were re¬
named the Toe H Players'. When
the branch finally folded there was
some money still left in their ac¬
counts and when the Attleborough
Players were formed at the start of
the seventies this money was be¬
queathed to them to help give them
a start. In fact, some of the old Toe H members were also founder members of the new
group, so it could be said that there was a degree of continuity from the old organisation to
the new.

The laying up of Attleborough banner in 1982

Aylsham

One of their members was Roy Key of the famous Keys auctioneers in town.

In June 1957 Tubby paid surprise visit to the branch. He was received in Town Hall (where
they met at this time) by Mr A.F. Berwick (Skipper) and Mr R.G. Fairclough (Treasurer).
Tubby was at Wymondham for the 850*^ festival year of Wymondham Abbey for a service
with Pat Leonard.

Bradweir

Formed by H. Whiley, Bradwell were awarded branch
status on 5th January 1938 with a three year tenure. On
10 Dec 1938 at the Birthday Festival at the RAH,

Bradwell’s lamp was the first of 56 lit that night by the
Earl of Clarendon. (Later that same night the Shering-
ham Lamp was also lit) Bradwell’s lamp was known as
The Oliver Gosnold Clark Lamp and was given by his
sisters. The dedication reads “In memory of Ranger
Clark who gave his life for others whilst fighting a forest
fire Vancouver Island 25.6.1925”

*At the time of its existence Bradweii was in Suffolk but
inciuded here as pt5 became part of Norfoik in 1972.

Caister on Sea Bradweirs petition to the Guard of the Lamp

Formed in 1960, Caister met initially in the Church

Hall then in the old railway station on Manor Road. In late 60s this was redeveloped so
they moved to Resthaven - the Aged Men’s Rest Hut at rear of Council Hall (This was
opened in 1951 was but was barely in use when Toe H took it over). In 2000 the branch
was in decline so they pulled down the hut and created a Millennium Seating Amenity on
the site. They continued to meet in chairman Cyril Barrage’s house until last meeting 5 May
2001. They gave their money away to a variety of causes including Centre 81. at Great
Yarmouth. During the branch’s lifetime they ran a community minibus and did outings for
disabled (Amongst many other things). Cne of their huge achievements was the publication
of an Annual Holiday Guide for Holidaymakers in Caister for over 15 years.

Roland Gill of Caister branch was involved in planning the new constitution (c.1967) which
would pave the way for the unification of the Men’s and Women’s sections (so it is slightly
ironic they that did not merge until 1978—sometime after many other branches.

There is a bench outside the library dedicated to Roland Gill, Bill Hogg, and Harry Marfleet.

Caister on Sea (Women)

Caister on Sea (Joint)

Cantley

I have seen a reference to a group at Cantley but cannot find any further details about it.

Castle Acre
Cawston

Cawston branch was formed in 1953. Amongst the service it provided for the village was
the help it gave towards providing a bus shelter. The branch met either in Village Hall or at
Cawston school. It closed in 1959. See also www.cawstonparish.info/toc_h.htm

Costessey

Founded around 1949

11*'^ Cctober 1970 Tubby visits St Edmund’s, Costessey for service of rededication on 21®*
Anniversary of Costessey branch

Cringleford (Women)

Cromer

The Cromer Brass band started life as a Boys Band in the late 1940s formed by Too H with
Mr. Henry Bishop as Bandmaster/Conductor.

Oliver‘Finny’ Finlay was branch padre in 1978

Cromer (Women)

Worked hand in hand with USAF Sculthorpe to give disabled British Legion men days out.

Dereham

Dereham formed Sep 1931. Their lamp was first lit at the Coming of Age Birthday party in
1936. They opened Barwell’s Court as their rooms the following September.

The strongest branch in Mid Norfolk it helped start branches at Fakenham, Toftwood, and
other places

Dereham (Women)

Dersingham

The branch used to meet in a club that had been built in an outbuilding at Dersingham Old
Hall

Dersingham (Women)

Downham Market

In 1949 met on Modays in Hill House on Church Lane.

Drayton

Eaton

Eaton ran one of Toe H’s film units. They were also regular visitors to the Jenny Lind Hos¬
pital. Eaton branch provided a trophy—the Eaton Clanger—awarded to the branch with the
best attendance at the Area Rallies

Fakenham

Formed by Dereham branch. In winter 1932 they came to
the town to talk about Toe H. In 1933 a group was
formed. During WWII only three members remained at
home. They posted their names and addresses in the
YMCA so that any members serving in the forces in that
area (There were many airbases) could visit. Incidentally
Toe H had restarted YMCA in Fakenham cl 937 (Peter
Raban and John Durham)

One of the founders was Frank Tipple who was the
branch joker and a member of the branch Glee Singers.

They worked with the children’s home at Little Snoring
and Red House Farm School. Later did much work with
Senior Citizens. Also involved in the Children’s Camps.

One of the key figures in Fakenham was Peter Raban an
Anglican priest. He later became District Secretary. Pe¬
ter’s son Jonathan is a well known travel writer, born in
Norfolk but now living in Seattle. In 1950 Peter moved to work for Toe H in the North West

(Liverpool) and was replaced by Reg Smith from the Western Area.

In April 1956 Reg Smith initiated an American, a Pole and a German into the branch
The branch banner now hangs in the town’s Gas Works and Local History museum

Fakenham (Women)

Filby

In 1949 they were a Group meeting on Fridays at the Vicarage.

Gimingham

Gorleston

Gorleston were sanctioned as a Group in 1934

One of their most memorable pieces of work was the wartime services club. It was housed
above the Coliseum Cinema and run by Bernard ‘BB’ Bothams and Len ‘Lovey’ Loveday.
Also Cabby Bowyer. (Cabby worked for Mathhes); Servicemen could get tea, coffee, sand¬
wiches or a fry up by Mrs Nichols. LWH served at the counter and were assisted by the
partially sighted Cyril. Ruritanian Mountain scenes were painted on the walls by a man who
had been a scene painter for Ivor Novello productions (and remained until the Coliseum
was demolished) There was a piano there that was often played. Later a house in Palmer
Road was used for baths (Looked after by Walter) and upstairs was a small library and rest
room where Cecil would sometimes lead gramophone recitals on a Sunday. Toe H Gorles¬
ton also provided distinctively painted (Black and Grange) bicycles at the railway stations
for the use of troops. They were always returned. At the end of the war in Europe surplus
furniture was sold off and the proceeds helped provide a canteen in Malaya for the men still
fighting the war in the Far East.

Gorleston (Women)

Gorleston branch provided enlarged library and reading room at Heathers Plain for Ser¬
vicemen and Women (1945)

In Cctober 1961 Gorleston Women’s Association branch came third with a float that took
part in the RAF organised Carnival for Battle of Britain Week in GY. Another branch (Poss
men’s) also took part.

Gorleston (Joint)

Still going strong—the last Norfolk branch!

Great Yarmouth

See In the Beginning for the story of Great Yarmouth branch

Great Yarmouth (Womens)

Happisborough

One of the earliest Toe H branches in the county

Hellesdon

Hellesdon branch started cl 951. In 1952 they were given the Priest’s Room over the porch
of St Mary’s Hellesdon as their Upper Room. On 20 Sep 1952 a Dedication of the Upper
Room, Badge and Lamp was conducted by the Revd W. Sinnett-Davies

In 1953 they collected waste paper were planning a boys camp. Around this time they also
adopted Denniss Ugino in a Nigerian Leper Camp.

Holgate

Formed with assistance of North Walsham. They did much work for the local cottage hos¬
pital.

Holt

Holt (Women)

Hoveton & Wroxham

19 Apr 56 Norwich District Annual
meeting. Hoveton and Wroxham
lamp lit by Lord Mayor. Donated by
Mr P.M. Gorton in memory of his fa¬
ther Revd John Gorton.

On 7*^ June 1956 Hoveton and
Wroxham organised an evening
Cruiser trip from Wroxham to Horn¬
ing and back. Members of North
Walsham, Cawston and Sprowston
attended. Light was taken afloat on Wroxham Broad.

Besides their fine work organising boat trips for the district, W&H did much service includ¬
ing the flashing light scheme. However their biggest claim to fame was that they met in one
of the more unusual branch rooms. The waiting room on Wroxham and Hoveton BR sta¬
tion. Painted in pastel shades, rewired and refurbished it could fit 20 people ‘at a push’

Hunstanton

In Hunstanton the Men and Women’s branches worked together (1960s) to provide an an¬
nual party for the children of St Christopher’s Orphanage

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Hunstanton (Women)
Hunstanton (Joint)

Kings Lynn

After the war Toe H sent clothes
and toys to German children.
Kings Lynn used to stuff sweets
and toys in pockets and toes so
they wouldn’t be discovered until
the children put them on.

Kings Lynn (Women)

Lakenham

Loddon

Loddon (Women)

Loddon (Joint)

Closed in 1979

Mundesiey

Approved as group early 1958 and became a branch 13th October that year

In 1964 Mundesley took over running the Putting Green for the Parish Council. After mak¬
ing a profit of £300 the Inland Reve- r /vus

nue declared that this was not in the
primary purpose of the branch and
taxed them at 7s 9d in the pound.

Provided a boat kit (Flares, tools and
compass) for Mundesley Inshore Res¬
cue boat.

North Walsham

See Birth of a Branch

In 1963 Toe H men from North Wal¬
sham ‘despiked’ the beach at Walcott
by removing the remains of the WWII
concrete defences.

In July 1975 they planted a flower bed
outside the district council offices,
forming the Toe H lamp from 1075
plants.

Norwich

See In the Beginning

In 1974 16 disabled people from Vauxhall Centre went to Alison House for a holiday. This
was organised by Toe H man Trevor Sizer who also worked at Vauxhall Centre

Norwich (Women)

Norwich (Joint)

Norwich in Touch Youth Group

Norwich Heigham

Norwich Enterprise

Jane Youngs, her sister and mother all joined
Toftwood ladies in late 50s. This was a lively
branch with people of all age ranges. When
family moved to Norwich in early sixties, Jane
found she did not fit in with ‘older’ branch so
started Norwich Enterprise for younger mem¬
bers. They had 10-12 members and did a va¬
riety of jobs such as campaigning for wheel¬
chair access at Theatre Royal and taking resi¬
dents from Leonard Cheshire home to church.

Jane also recalls a trip to Talbot House; a
garden party at Windsor where they met An¬
gus Ogilvey; and a great friend in Rev Jim
Farrant who held annual service at Whisson-
set.

Ormesby

Una Watson wrote to tell me that “My fa-

ther 'Chummy' James i/i/as, for many years, a member of the Great Yarmouth Branch, and
later the Ormesby, and later still, Ormesby Joint Branch. My mother was also a member -
of Great Yarmouth Ladies Branch.

The Ormesby Men's Branch gave a Christmas Party for the village Senior Citizens for sev¬
eral years (with, I fancy, the women doing much of the work). Before becoming a Joint
Branch, the members of Ormesby Men's, were, I think, down to four: My father, Mr. Frank
Motley, Mr Pearce, and Jimmy Holmes”

Ormesby (Women)

Ormesby (Joint)

Pockthorpe

Achieved branch status 7 Nov 1956

Reepham

Sheringham

Sheringham became a branch on 1st Jun 1938
Sheringham Men’s branch closed October 1980

Sheringham (Women)

Sprowston

Sprowston branch’s main claim to fame was that they were responsible for starting football
commentaries for hospital radio in Norwich. Two members—Arthur Smith and Sidney
Grenville—developed the idea after branch members used to take blind people to Carrow
Road and commentate on the game for them.

The branch met in the Old Slaughter House on the Recreation Ground. Sprowston branch
was closed 28th March 1984. The banner was laid up in the parish church at a special ser¬
vice of dedication.

Sprowston (Women)

S waff ham

Swaffham (Women)

Toft Monks

Toftwood

Toftwood (Women)

Waipoles

A Walpoles group was established in 1957 - presumably never made branch status

Weiis next to the Sea

Formed by Fakenham branch but didn't last long. They didn’t meet during the summer
months. One Fakenham member candidly suggests they didn’t quite grasp the concept of
TocH.

Wiggenhall St Germans
Wymondham

Jan 1957 Wymondham were meeting at Holmwood on Monday evenings

Jan 1957 Wymondham jobmaster Mr F. Harwood led hymn singing at Wymondham hospi¬
tal

Won the 1974 Sydney Waller bowls championship

Wymondham (Women)

Wymondham ladies formed 1955

Because of the District boundaries the following branches were sometimes ‘roped’ in with
Norfolk. Beccles (Suffolk), Kirkley (Suffolk), Lowestoft (Suffolk). Wisbech (Cambridgeshire),

5 ..Pct-bt

Alan Brooke

As this booklet shows many people have made
outstanding contributions to the county of Norfolk
in the name of Too H. It seems almost unfair to
single out one person but then Alan Brooke was
an exceptional man. As of 2007 Alan was still
working for Too H in Norfolk until his sudden death
at the end of May. The Rally at which this booklet
is being launched was originally planned a sur¬
prise celebration for Alan.

Alan became involved with Toe H after his own
move to Norfolk in 1955. In the mid sixties he -
along with Olive Tennant - was one of the prime
movers behind what was variously known as the
Norfolk Activities Committee or the Norfolk Action
Group.

Their body of work was first conceived at Dere¬
ham men’s branch in Toe H’s Golden Jubilee year of 1965. August of that year saw what
was Norfolk’s first ever Toe H residential project - a week long camp at Santon Downham
for some 30 under-privileged boys from Leicester. The camp was a huge success and
continued for many years. Along the way a new holiday for adults with physical disabilities
was also started leading to a long association with Hengrave Hall. There were also holi¬
days for the deaf and for the visually impaired. Last year, more than 40 years later, Alan
and Janet were still leading LEAF a holiday for Lonely Elderly Active Folk. This holiday will
continue.

Alan was awarded the OBE in 1993.
The full citation reads:

However, Alan didn’t content himself with running this repertoire of holidays. In 1970 he
was elected to Toe H’s Central Council and also the Central Executive Committee ensuring
that he took a hand in running the organisation as a whole. He was - in the words of the
organisation’s magazine - “involved in everything that moves in the region”. It was no sur¬
prise then that he also became the Regional Chairman of what was then the Mid-East, pre¬
siding over gatherings with great hu¬
mour as well as authority.

Alan’s ambition for the organisation was
epitomised in 1972 by a scheme to es¬
tablish a Residential Community to help
revive community life in Rural East An¬
glia. Toe H had recently come in to a
large sum of money after selling it’s
Tower Hill headquarters, and Alan and
his friends came up with a wonderful
idea to use some of the money to estab¬
lish the community even going as far as
producing a booklet outlining their plans.
Sadly others in the organisation did not
show the same vision and compassion
that Alan did and the Community never
came to fruition but to me it is just an¬
other illustration of how committed Alan
was to Toe H.

Mr Afan J Brooke fjas teen appointed an officer of the Civit Diifision of the Order of the Brit¬
ish Empire in recognition of his vohntary and
chahtahie services to the community in East
Angiia. He has devoted viduaHy his entire fife to
voiontary activities benefiting the disadvan¬
taged. He first joined the charity organisation
Toe H in ^956, becoming Area Secretary in hte
1960s. He was Regionai Chairman for East An¬
giia from 1971 to 1975 and resumed the posi¬
tion in 1988 untit the present day. Between
f965 and 1986 he urrderiook the organisation
and running of over 20 summer camps for chil¬
dren in the care of the NSPCC in conjunction
with Norfolk Social Services- From 1977 to
1985 he M/as chairman of the Queen's Silver
Jubliee Tni^f m Suffolk and continued in the ca¬
pacity of Vice Chairman from ^9e5 to date. He
ivas for a time the a/ea Fund Raising Officer for
the Red Cross before the post uvas dishanded.

He continues to organise, fundraise, and lead
holidays for physically handicapped adults and
elderly people in Norfolk and ha.s been doing so
since 1976, His abiiityto get alongside peopie,
to encourage, and inspire others tc achieve ob¬
jectives is wet! known. His work for the Church
and espedalty the stewardship department in
the Diocese ofNonwich is extremely committed
and practical. The work entails assisting parish¬
es all over Norfolk, unsocial hours and much
night travelling to see individuals in their own
homes.

This is not the complete story of the Norfolk Activities Committee, merely a few of the bare
facts. The real story of this Toe H group should be told by the children and adults who got
joy from their holidays in Norfolk and by the volunteers who gained personal development
from their time on the camps. These are the real stories of such projects. This extract from
a volunteer’s report illustrates my point

“What do you do with the boy who is always fighting? Smack him, send him home - or
what?. This happened with ‘Johnnie’. So the camp leader merely took him by the hand and
walked with him to see the ducks on the lake. Only Johnnie knows what she said to him -
but it did wonders and Johnnie was no more trouble."

of 1965 - Toe H’s Golden Jubilee year - Dere¬
ham men’s branch organised Norfolk Toe H’s
first ever residential project. A week long camp
in August at the Norfolk Education camping site
at Santon Downham near Brandon gave a holi¬
day for some 30 boys aged 8-12 recommended
by Leicester Social Services. (Boys Camps were
an important early expression of Toe H’s service
starting - I believe - in Derby in the 1930s)

It was deemed successful enough to continue.
The location switched to Wells and later Holk-
ham. The project caught the imagination of Toe
H in Norfolk and the Dereham men received considerable support through the District
teams and branches.

So what of the bare facts? In the summer

In 1970 the Norfolk Camp Committee was formed and agreed to increase the camp to two
weeks and include girls. The children were all from underprivileged backgrounds. The suc¬
cess generated spin-off projects with the
Leicester children going to Poacher’s
Den in Lincolnshire, and an exchange
with children in Wellingborough. By the
mid seventies the first of each two week
holiday was for 12 boys and 12 girls from |

Norwich (Recommended by the
NSPCC); the second week was for 12
boys and 12 girls from Wellingborough in
exchange for an equal number of Norfolk |
boys and girls who went to Wellingbor¬
ough. All the children were aged 7-11.

By 1974, the project was sufficiently big
enough for more help to be engaged and
the five districts of Norfolk pooled their
resources to form the Norfolk Activities
Committee, chaired by Olive Tennant. In

the same year they secured ihe use
of the Scout hut at Garveston for
their activities. Twelve deaf lads
from Hillingdon were amongst the
first to make use of this arrange¬
ment.

Money was raised to fund additional
projects and a camping holiday for
the Deaf was added in 1975, as was
a self-funding social holiday combin¬
ing bird-watching with an exploration
of Norfolk churches.

The following year - the long, hot
summer of 1976 - saw a week of
conservation work at at Norfolk Na¬
ture Reserve, a holiday for the blind at Crom-er, and a repeat of the social holiday, along¬
side three week’s worth of children's camps.

1977 saw a joint children's camp with Social Services' Intermediate Treatment staff and the
fruition of a holiday for the physically handicapped which had been conceived two years
earlier.

Around 1966 the Children's camps morphed into the ‘Cuffley Projects' which were initially
held between two bases (Cuffley Youth Centre in Herts and the house at Mundesley) but
later remained in Hertfordshire,

By this time the leading lights were Alan Brooke and Olive Tennant and they focussed on
holidays for disabled people and the elderly at Hengrave Hall and Ashweilthorpe.

Finally, the Norfolk Activities Committee was reduced to one holiday a year—for older
folks. This LEAF {Lonely Elderly Active Folk) holiday still continues and the 2007 event

runs from 31st October at the Pheasant in Kelling.

_ T.

_h ibiii "

List of Norfolk Activities Committee Projects

If you know of any errors or omissions please contact me

1965

Boys’ Camp

Santon Downham

1966

Boys’ Camp

Wells next to the Sea

1967

Boys’ Camp

Holkham

1968

Boys’ Camp??

1969

Boys’ Camp??

NORFOLK CAMP COMMITTEE FORMED

1970

Children’s Camps (2 weeks)

Boys & girls for first time; Norwich kids!

1971

Children’s Camps

1972

Children’s Camps

1973

Children’s Camps

1974

Children’s Camps

NORFOLK ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE FORMED

1975

Children’s Camps (2 weeks)

1975

Camping holiday for the Deaf

1975

First ‘leisure’ project

Bird watching and exploring churches

1976

First Conservation project

Norfolk nature reserve

1976

Holiday for the Blind

Cromer

1976

Leisure project

1976

Children’s camps (3 weeks)

04 Sep - 11 Sep 1977

Flora, Fauna & Folk Lore

Hengrave Hall Physically handicapped

1977

Deaf/Blind w/e holiday

Gorleston

1977

Children’s Camp 1

Dunton nr Fakenham for 1 time

1977

Children’s Camp 2

1977

Children’s Camp 3

1978

Ducks & Dandelions Conservation

1978

Eyes and Ears - Deaf/blind first full week

1978

Children’s camps (3 no.)

15 Sep-22 Sep 1978

Hengrave Hall Holiday

Hengrave Hall

1979

Deaf/Blind Holiday

1979

Children’s Camps (4 no.)

1979

Weekend Camp

1979

Conservation Week

08 Jun - 15 Jun 1979

Hengrave Hall Holiday

Hengrave Hall

14 Apr - 18 Apr 1980

Children’ Weekend Camp

Garveston

16 May-18 May 1980

Ashwellthorpe Holiday

Ashwellthorpe Hall

31 May - 06 Jun 1980

Ears & Eyes Deaf/Blind holiday

Lions’ Holiday Hotel, Gorleston

28 Jun - 12 Jul 1980

Balancing Nature Conservation

Strumpshaw Fen

08 Jul- 15 Jul 1980

Living As A Family

Hengrave Hall

02 Aug - 09 Aug 1980

Children’s Camp

Holkham Park

09 Aug - 23 Aug 1980

Children’s Camps (2 no.)

Dunton Old School

May 1981

Peewits and Places Leisure project

Horstead

1981

Summer Projects (Children’s Camps)

1981

Holiday for mentally handicapped adults

03 Sep - 10 Sep 1982

Living As a Family

Hengrave Hall

1983

A Deep Breath of Norfolk( Bird watching)

1983

Conservation Project

1983

Children’s Camp(s)

03 Sep - 09 Sep 1983

Living As A Family

Hengrave Hall

1984

Bird Watching Week

1984

Conservation Project

1984

Children’s Camp(s)

15 Sep-22 Sep 1984

Ashwellthorpe Hall Holiday

Ashwellthorpe Hall

20 Apr-27 Apr 1985

Ashwellthorpe Hall Holiday

Ashwellthorpe Hall

04 May-11 May 1985

Springtime in Norfolk (Leisure)

Hunstanton

06 Jul - 13 Jul 1985

Tending To Nature

Norfolk Broads

20 Jul-03 Aug 1985

Children’s Camps (2 weeks)

10 Aug - 17 Aug 1985

Adventure Holiday

A more ’strenuous’ holiday for older children

13 Sep - 20 Sep 1985

Care and Share

Hengrave Hall

12 Apr-19 Apr 1986

Ashwellthorpe Hall Holiday

Ashwellthorpe Hall

05 Jul-12 Jul 1986

09 Aug- 16 Aug 1986

09 Aug - 16 Aug

Nature Care (Conservation)

Happy Families (Children 6-8 yrs)
Children’s Camp (Children (9-13 yrs)

Norfolk Broads

Mundesley

Blakeney

1987

12 Sep - 18 Sep 1987

Conservation Project

Hengrave Hall Holiday

Hengrave Hall

1988

1988

1988

26 Aug - 02 Sep 1988

Conservation Project

Conservation Project

Old People’s Holiday

Care & Share Family Holiday

How Hill

Beeston Common

Cromer

Hengrave Hall

02 Sep - 09 Sep 1989
08 Sep - 15 Sep 1989
1989

Conservation in Norfolk

Sharing a Holiday in Suffolk

Old People’s Holiday

North Norfolk

Hengrave Hall

Gorleston??

06 Jul-13 Jul 1990

08 Sep - 15 Sep 1990
16 Nov-18 Nov 1990

08 Mar-10 Mar 1991

30 Aug - 06 Sep 1991
1991

Hengrave Hall Holiday

Common Conservation

Ecumenical Weekend

Ecumenical Weekend

Hengrave Hall Holiday

Ashwellthorpe Hall Holiday

Hengrave Hall

North Norfolk

Hengrave Hall

Hengrave Hall

Hengrave Hall

Ashwellthorpe Hall

28 Aug-04 Sep 1992

Share and Care

Hengrave Hall

02 Jul-09 Jul 1993

11 Sep-18 Sep 1993

Share and Care

Golden Oldies

Hengrave Hall

Ashwellthorpe Hall

26 Aug-2 Sep 1994

08 Oct-15 Oct 1994

Handle With Care

Golden Oldies

Hengrave Hall

Ashwellthorpe Hall

25 Aug - 1 Sep 1995

07 Oct - 14 Oct 1995

Handle With Care

Golden Oldies

Hengrave Hall

Ashwellthorpe Hall

19 Jul-26 Jul 1996

05 Oct - 12 Oct 1996

Share and Care

Golden Oldies

Hengrave Hall

Ashwellthorpe Hall

25 Aug - 05 Sep 1997
07 Oct - 14 Oct 1997

Caring and Sharing Spells Happiness Hengrave Hall

Golden Oldies Ashwellthorpe Hall

17 Jul-24 Jul 1998

03 Sep - 10 Sep 1999

A Holiday Viewed From A Wheelchair Hengrave Hall

Another View From A Wheelchair Hengrave Hall

14 Jul-21 Jul 2000

10 Oct-17 Oct 2000

Another View From A Wheelchair
Golden Oldies

Hengrave Hall

Ashwellthorpe Hall

14 Sep-21 Sep 2001
16 Oct-23 Oct 2001

Share and Care

LEAF (Lonely Elderly Active Folk)

Hengrave Hall

Ashwellthorpe Hall

16 Sep-23 Sep 2002
07 Oct-14 Oct 2002

Share and Care

LEAF

Ashwellthorpe Hall.

Ashwellthorpe Hall

15 Sep-22 Sep 2003
14 Oct-21 Oct 2003

Share and Care

LEAF

Ashwellthorpe Hall.

Ashwellthorpe Hall.

31 Oct-07 Nov 2004

LEAF

The Pheasant

31 Oct-07 Nov 2005

LEAF

The Pheasant

01 Nov-08 Nov 2006

LEAF

The Pheasant

30 Oct - 7 Nov 2007

LEAF

The Pheasant

2008 ???

HOW MUCH SUPPORT ARE YOU PREPARED TO GIVE ME?

Pat Leonard

There were many men instrumental in the birth of the movement we knew and know. One
of these - Martin Patrick Grainge Leonard DSO, MA - spent the last few years of life here
in Norfolk as Bishop of Thetford.

Pat Leonard - as he was generally known - knew Tubby at the Old House and was recruit¬
ed to help restart the movement back in the UK.

Born in Torpenhow, Cumberland on 5*^ July 1889 and educated at Rossall and Oriel Col¬
lege Cambridge, Pat was ordained in 1913 and served as a chaplain in WWI. He was
among the first padres to be awarded the DSO which he won at Longueval in the first battle
of the Somme. He served with 76*'^ Infantry brigade and 4th King's Own but ended the war
with the Royal Flying Corps.

After war became chaplain at Cheltenham College but gave ^
this up to join Toe H where he had an illustrious career aswell
as accompanying Tubby on several trips overseas.

I

Joint administrator Chaplain HQ 1920-34;

He was Chaplain to Toe H 1922-29 Manchester; L

Toured the world with Tubby in 1925; i

Led the fledgling movement for 15 months in Australia and 7
months in the US;

Curate of All Hallows 1931-36;;

Became a Vice President of Toe H and was chief overseas
commissioner;

Also very involved with Boy Scouts Pat held the Silver Wolf

Stepped down from frontline Toe H duty in 1936 to become
Rector of Bishop's Hatfield (Hertfordshire) 1936-44 (and Ru¬
ral Dean of Hertford in 1940) then appointed Provost of Glas¬
gow Cathedral from 1944 to 1953

In September 1953 Pat was consecrated as Suffragen Bishop‘i
of Thetford by the Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr Geoffrey
Fisher). The ceremony took place in Southwark Cathedral.

Pat Leonard was Rector of West Tofts with Bukenham Par-
vae from 1954

Also Vicar of Stanford from 1954

A keen philatelist, Pat became president of the Norfolk and
Norwich Philatelic Society in 1957.

In 1961 Pat visited his daughter and son-in-law in Kenya.

When he returned home he fell ill and was diagnosed with
cancer.

He died at 5am on Sunday 21®* July 1963 in the Middlesex Hospital, London. He had been
due to retire as Bishop of Thetford in September. His funeral was held at All Hallows on
Wednesday 24**^ July 1963 and a Thanksgiving Service was held in Norwich Cathedral on
31®* July. He left two sons and two daughters and his widow, Kay.

Kay moved into The Close in the ground of Norwich Cathedral where she lived for many
years. She ended her days in the nearby Great Hospital where - in the Butterfly Garden on
the south side of St Helen’s church - there is a round wall plaque commemorating her. It
reads, “In memory of Kay Leonard 1900-94 who loved this place.”

We Will Remember .

A small selection of local obituaries from the pages of Point 3
Date given is Point 3 issue date

List OmTkiiiaEi faJni la&t ica

-QldEitl mem her, t-cnnuil {Fap} iilldwin

Hnd I half l''»T rna-ri)' 'Prtp' lianl

been ^ fiisud of St tipor^'s Cl»iicch, If pm,

whkh lie had listed cn inany occaucirs. Tli5

rajniiy ii'ccrtty al tin Jed a aE

CliiLitLh, dujLAe ‘^luch a tjfass f>laque wbe

dedicitcJ to 'Pop' Wc aie evti*nic(y prukid ic»

have chu news of a slnfulai ttonouT bestowed

unon onu uf uut merlnbOtS n

(-• AIS

October 1988

bernant (BB> Boillams aiwd 97 , foUjLifcr
meiiibcr ul' ttie frorJcsion Hnni-li J 93 Ci. an
CSilrrincly actila nmt pofnilar Ijaare in the
amimunity, fspctially in Ihr war years Vfjltfl In;
onianisfd ibc Futlx? Canteen livui Ha; old
Culiiaarn, A f.r(a( eharaL-tuT who i^iJI bo sadly
mbsed.

LB

June 1987

Wlnllrvd Uary Brlnd»il OaO SuOflentr 00 17 OelEbor. She had boan a
rTMmbar a1 T« H lur e^ar K yaaft lirai the Gneal
WaaiEr'i Branch and Ixtor «au 004 nl tia tfseiOar I?or*031j0ei Wnnsn

£b? Hon U ciUilsh a trancti al StiadAdl ffu

waihad ceol aa dasuia-. altta- whim shr bEcarre- a msmbaf ol ^
Brnadarsd Disiifieh ShoaKvayStaok a^aaiinliEnisl m Toe htwerk and thSI
tMgnullymsudb^ bar lamilyaiod many liiands. PMB

Dec 1994

ITt rtflF StTif fo !?i'PT nj tin’ tfi’atb rj/' f.'Om-jrr /VJ’t'i"

Kubtirr n’<tS a rn i'asl . kpryfjj'o b^ttm the

WtPr bnt li'hih in Htf urtny ?pj ittjfy rtn’i Jix il Ibningb

Hi u’l’t/ar*; uuibfr, jJffrf tAPfl tin^ ftajj in ISMfh.

Hf itfVfii « JT(VJ SviTVInry in Unit linti tbtfn

Hi IH'iftpuoi. in'/orf in t'fJJ it> mitiut

Chicbvslvr TbtnfH>jfi*:ni Mis SuHuittii^nt

tnHtifir^' nvix imtirsiy in tire WinibtrUer IfiOifie

Sep 1996

Noflh lAi'afatiam Btancli Kuct to anoonnesE the
death of Cbude t Ga.niipeTtzK i long-serving.
inEmbEr of the MovennenL He was only a
member of otir Branch for a few yean, when he
cams to live in the town, but lud also b«h a
stauncli metnbcj of Kings Lynn Hraneh, lud
hyd connectkina at times with hforwlch and
(iorlcslon Blanches^ nnd ha<( known Tubby
quite well Ht; lud jusi be^n made a lifr-
mambei of the Majik Cirele, Amorveat his many
inteieats hia favotuite, when well anough, was
acting aa on of tlae Guide; in 19orwiic}i
CathfidraL CLiude will be greatly iniascd by
many in the town and sutfoninding viH^es, 'W'e
exiend oui sympatlyy to his wife, Betty, ard hjs
many lektions.

PP

November 1987

Sydney ■SmudB*r SiTinh,wtio!Je^linOc»iQaf.itinad GnealVaniMulh
Branch in Ihd mid 3Dt. later Irarvsterri hfl loOfrtendPi&nch. A™ry aclrwe
and KrvHitiKtBenMa man. be waa t» niJnuallv PO Iha bakouC td hsTi ottiar
pDcpId with IhMr prnbiBms In ISdJ |h« becarYia n™ Gennral Sociniwy lH
|he (^aaH V#moij|n $eOuta Aaaocinlidn ard hepi n Iduchi with Toe H ae
a OiStrlCt Mantt>ar Tho larQO OOAila'hipaten atlendrig t>s tynaral seoilee
WAS A splendid trtiuia ard andioaihta nl hii ttpocI upon H-ifl edirmdnily

CAB

Dec 1994

LADymAVH™ ■wtMJdMKicm 13EhJ.iV.
aoecl 100. max a movritier gf Ahirwich
hrarch of [h* WcimBTi s Aiuoelotk>i\ nnd
was mabd a Vlet-n-eaident ki tha ineoa,
Sh* wte a vmy actti^e Vlte-Ptmldort
rttmdlfjo ijeriTBl Ejlecu!1»

CdifUl End sarwTig eo thie Ovwsoai
■Ccanmitta# Wlien aoa fhah^ liWter) iier
avoVement dw became a loyW tbe H
BnMer. 5t‘Ef vnB- a doigiTHU otmooaity
Bad! a goed ndacr EW

Dec 1998

OlVv TerrwTt vvbo cted sudderV In Jarua'v
Bged it. WES a fcadtig mamber A-^tS
fix mBiy ycBS. She.ic*wd in 195^ aocl'»asa
key 'XgatsET dM arvaial tlecTofe <tiildnan'S
carrms tficrr the bOs] and alao, imtn I^Tg,
ibdtdeys for thw ddarfy atsd pfiode
doBbttes. Chn was. ri particular an

asstma limmtaf ind pktAist< ID terett

years she gav-a mucti SuIJiMrt bO QwdmhoTi
Hospice, arid FWyi 3 Wei. OCBbft' rapwtEd iwr
ritfTt n a .yetdohr b> ^iajpot fe. Sue su-srd
tanre: as a ContraJ COKelOf. Brd dso on the
C.E C. A comnitlwl anaJ enrthLoimtic moTibcr.
who nealy eeisyed -n Tdc H. ste wi b* much
rtSSed

April 2002

MULTUM IN PARVO

A handful of Norfolk Toe H trivia that wouidn’t fit in anywhere eise

Barclay ‘Barkis’ Baron—stalwart staff member and editor of the Journal—entered a paint¬
ing of Blakeney Harbour in the 1936 Coming of Age Festival Art Contest and won the oils
category (Class 1)

In 1955 Tubby announced he was to hold a ceremony on Tower Hill illustrating the mercy
shown to Jesus by a Roman Commander. Norfolk’s Scouts and Guides were to provide
bodies for this pageant that was to become an annual event. A second explanation says
that the ceremony was to celebrate Classicianus, the Roman Procurator of Britain whose
gravestone was found near Tubby’s home on Tower Hill. Classicianus had been in power
when Boudicca (Boadicea) and the Iceni had sacked London. He was responsible for
showing mercy and not wreaking revenge on Norfolk. The Norfolk Guides and Scouts
came to play the Iceni whilst the Romans were played by Marksmen particularly from
Prideaux House. .

Dorothy France, a Queen Alexander nurse and one of just eight women Foundation mem¬
bers, gave her address as Northgate Hall, Warham, Wells on the Communicants slip she
signed.

The metal Toe H sign (Similar to a shield) was designed by the Boddy brothers from Nor¬
wich branch in 1927. Boddy Brothers normally made things like metal milk churns.

On 5*'^ October 1951a Divisional Night was held at the War Memorial Hall in Dereham.

Over 400 people were present to hear Tubby deliver a speech. (Another source says 550)

Greshams of Holt was an affiliated school

In 1931 H.W. Cleland of the Norvic Shoe Company, Norwich was Toe H's schools repre¬
sentative

1936 Tubby came to Great Yarmouth to talk about Leper Colonies in Nigeria. One of the
people who heard him talk was Fred Tuck - secretary of Dereham branch. Three weeks
later he set sail from Liverpool to West Africa where he worked in the Leper Colonies. He
met his wife, Edna, in Nigeria and they married in 1941. Fred and Edna returned to the UK
in 1958 and returned to Norfolk in 1975 living in Hethersett. He remained a strong support¬
er of Toe H until his death on 7*^ April 2007 at the age of 96.

Norfolk Voluntary Association for the Physically Handicapped started holidays at Gorleston
Super Holiday Camp in 1953. Two local Toe H branches were amongst the volunteers who
assisted.

ONE MAN^S JOURNEY INTO TOC H

Colin Websdell was bom in Norfolk but moved to Staffordshire. It
was here that he first came into contact with Toe H when Mr and
Mrs Dyson invited him to join the family. After returning to Norfolk
he became involved with Norwich District and in 1977 first met
Alan Brooke and Olive Tennant (whom he later called his mum
and dad!) It would be Olive who would initiate him after being
sponsored by Reg Ives. At this time Norwich branch met in the
Church Rooms of the URC church in Princes Street. The first thing
that Colin got involved with at this time was the great knit-in (See
activities). He also went to the Boys Camp with Ken Wisden.

Colin - who has a disability himself - then started helping at the
Hengrave Hall holidays which, he says, “made me realise how
lucky I was”. Colin was a qualified First Aider and became an ex¬
pert wheelchair lifter.

He also joined a local project group known as the SAGGERS and through this Colin did a
Sponsored Bike Ride from Norwich to Hengrave Hall and back assisted by his policeman
friend - Paul Watson. He followed this up with a further sponsored ride to Walsingham and
another to Cromer. On the latter his wheel buckled and he returned part of the way to Nor¬
wich on foot. He also did the Stockmen’s tent at the Royal Norfolk Show assisting Pat Dai¬
ley and her husband.

Colin’s first trip to Talbot House was with Alan and Olive and he remembers weeping in the
Upper Room. And now, all these years later, Colin is an important part of the Norfolk Activi¬
ties Committee.

REMNANTS

The real legacy Toe H leaves behind is the Service it has carried out over the years: How¬
ever, there are some physical reminders of Toe H scattered about the county.

Clockwise from Top Left: The lamp in the window of Anna Sewell House, Church Plain, Yarmouth; a
bench outside Caister library; the North Walsham hut on New Road; the Bradwell banner in Bradwell

parish church

A Humorous TAILPIECE

Why serving your fellow man is not so straightforward these days:

The word came down from God to Noah: “Once again, the earth has become wicked and
over-populated and I see the end of all flesh before me. Build another Ark and save two of
every living thing along with a few good humans" He gave Noah the CAD drawings, saying,
"You have 6 months to build the Ark before I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40
nights."

Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard - but no Ark.
"Noah!", He roared, "I'm about to start the rain! Where is the Ark?"

"Forgive me. Lord," begged Noah, "but things have changed. I needed Building Regula¬
tions Approval and I've been arguing with the Fire Brigade about the need for a sprinkler
system. My neighbours claim that I should have obtained planning permission for building
the Ark in my garden because it is development of the site, even though in my view it is a
temporary structure. We had to then go to appeal to the Secretary of State for a decision.
Then the Department of Transport demanded a bond be posted for the future costs of mov¬
ing power lines and other overhead obstructions to clear the passage for the Ark's move to
the sea. I told them that the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of it..

Getting the wood was another problem. All the decent trees have Tree Preservation Orders
on them and we live in a Site of Special Scientific Interest set up in order to protect the
spotted owl. I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the
owls - but no go! When I started gathering the animals, the RSPCA sued me. They insisted
that I was confining wild animals against their will. They argued the accommodation was
too restrictive, and it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space.

Then the County Council, the Environment Agency and the Rivers Authority ruled that I
couldn't build the Ark until they'd conducted an environmental impact study on your pro¬
posed flood. I'm still trying to resolve a complaint with the Equal Opportunities Commission
on how many disabled carpenters I'm supposed to hire for my building team. The trades
unions say I can't use my sons. They insist I have to hire only accredited workers with Ark-
building experience.

To make matters worse. Customs and Excise seized all my assets, claiming I'm trying to
leave the country illegally with endangered species. So, forgive me. Lord, but it would take
at least 10 years for me to finish this Ark."

Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun
began to shine, and a rainbow
stretched across the sky.

Noah looked up in wonder and
asked, "You mean you're not going
to destroy the world?"

“No," said the Lord. "The British
government beat me to it."

This booklet was compiled by Steve Smith and distributed free to Toe H members on the occasion of the
Norfolk Area Rally on Saturday 20th October 2007.

This edition contains a few small corrections and additions

Text © Steve Smith 2007-2008
This edition published 2019

Steve Smith’s first involvement with Toe H was in the late sixties when he used to play in an old Nissan hut in
Goffs Oak which his mother told him used to be the Toe H hut. He thought no further about this until the late
eighties when John Burgess came to Cuffley Youth Centre - where Steve was a volunteer Youth Worker -
looking for a home for some Toe H projects. A relationship between the Youth Club and Toe H was quickly
established and together they took a party of youngsters to Talbot House a year or so later. This was Steve’s
first visit to Poperinge and his real introduction to Toe H.

Steve became involved with the Lea Valley branch for several years and after moving to Norfolk in 2005 be¬
came a Toe H staff member for 16 months. He is now a regular visitor to Gorleston branch and has taken
over the running of the Norfolk Activities Committee since the death of Alan Brooke. He is also working with
others to catalogue and preserve the Toe H archive at headquarters.

Steve lives near Aylsham with his partner Hazel, and is determined that the name of Toe H will live on in the
county of Norfolk.

Steve can be contacted as follows

Docking Farm Cottage

Docking Farm

Oulton

Norwich

NR11 6QZ

01603 308187
steve@largeinnorfolk.com

Acknowledgements

My thanks are extended to the many people who helped me in compiling this booklet but especially to John
Burgess, Charles Harrold, Gorleston branch, Norwich Cathedral Library, Norfolk Museums Services, and the
EDP cuttings library.

I am also extremely grateful to those branches and individuals who made financial donations which helped us
produce this booklet and to hold the Rally at Overstrand on Saturday 20th October 2007 at which this booklet
was launched.

Finally, my gratitude goes to every single worldwide member of Toe H since the very beginning for forming
part of an organisation which has played such an important role in my life.

Social History is important and much of Toe H’s history lies within the memories of its members. I
would love to hear your memories and stories of Toe H. I don’t mind how you do it—write them
down, reeord them or call me up and tell me but please don’t let them lost.

Also, if you have any interesting memorabilia I’d love to see it

Many thanks

Stem